Pattern review – drawstring trousers from Sew Everything Workshop

I wore these trousers almost every day when I was travelling around Turkey- next time I’ll make two pairs!

Pattern details

Name: ‘wear anywhere yoga pants’ from the book Sew Everything WorkshopDescription: wide-legged, drawstring trousersSizing: small, medium and large – I made the small size

Fabric

Suggested fabrics are light- to medium-weight cotton, linen, shantung or silk. I used 2.5m of medium-weight cotton chambray. It’s quite a soft fabric with dark-blue threads running one way and dark-green threads the other.

Instructions

The instructions were very easy to follow – loads of information and clear diagrams. The book is aimed at beginners so things are explained in much more detail than you would normally get in a sewing pattern. The finished trousers looked just like the picture and fitted perfectly.

The finished trousers

Here I am wearing the blue drawstring trousers and looking like a dork. I’m standing next to the fortress at the Rock of Van in the far east of Turkey.

And here sitting on the walls of Diyarbakir overlooking the Tigris Valley.

Likes and dislikes

Likes:

Quick and easy to sew – no complicated techniques

Clear instructions

Trousers are very flattering and fit very well

Dislikes:

Nothing really

Pattern alterations made

Shortened the trouser legs by 5cm.

Made the tie from the same fabric as the trousers rather than using the grosgrain ribbon or twill tape suggested in the pattern. After cutting the pattern pieces out, I cut an extra strip of fabric (3cm by 2m), measuring from the selvedge and drawing the rectangle straight onto the fabric. I folded the fabric strip in half, folded the edges into the centre and top stitched to make the tie.

Conclusions

I really like this pattern and would definitely use it again. The trousers are easy to make, flattering and fit well – it’s a good pattern for beginners. If I travel somewhere hot again I’ll probably make another pair of these trousers in cotton or linen. They would probably also look good made in a silky fabric to wear to a cocktail party or posh dinner (an unlikely event in my life but you never know).